INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for livelihoods, food security, water supply, health, security, and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.

The GCA’s ambitious 2020-2025 business plan and strategy have three pillars:

• Programs: Food Security; Using Nature for more resilient infrastructure; Water for Urban Growth and Resilience; Climate Finance; Youth Leadership.
• Knowledge: Building adaptation knowledge globally through cutting edge products such as the State and Trends in Adaptation Report and the Adaptation Knowledge Portal.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Formulating policy messages to move the global, regional, and local adaptation agendas forward.

Introduction to the Infrastructure and NBS Program
As a solutions broker for climate change adaptation, GCA responds to country client demands where there is an opportunity to significantly scale up climate resilience through mainstreaming climate adaptation in large-scale infrastructure investment projects to ensure impact on the ground, improved access to actionable knowledge; and focused advocacy on opportunities and innovations for prioritizing climate adaptation resilient investments. GCA’s interventions support Multilateral Banks (MDBs) and Governments starting with developing climate data and analytics for large-scale infrastructure projects. The climate data and analytics assist in identifying and appraising adaptation and resilience options for infrastructure investments, assets and operations.
 
GCA’s work program in Africa is designed to support in changing the momentum and pace of adaptation in Africa. Guiding GCA’s program in Africa is the Africa-owned and Africa-led Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), co-created with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to implement the vision of the Africa Adaptation Initiative to support African countries on key adaptation initiatives.
 
The Africa Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator (AIRA) Pillar of AAAP has the goal to scale up investment for climate resilient infrastructure in key sectors such as energy, water, and transport to help the continent close the infrastructure gap and achieve sustainable development in the face of climate change. It will ensure that climate risks and resilience are considered for at least 50% (by value) of new infrastructure projects in Africa.
In contrast to other regions, 70% of the infrastructure for Africa is yet to be built. The AfDB estimates suggest that Africa’s infrastructure needs are around US$130-170 billion a year, with an investment gap of over 50-60% of that amount. The continent has around US$100 trillion in assets, but is lagging in terms of quantity, affordability, and quality of infrastructure, which is limiting the continent’s economic growth by an estimated 2% of GDP per capita.
 
This infrastructure gap presents a challenge for countries and people, but it also provides an opportunity to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed through all new infrastructure planning and investments going forward. In addition, while financing resilient infrastructure assets is critical, it is increasingly important for countries in Africa to ensure that these investments translate into resilient and equitable infrastructure services.
 
AIRA addresses key barriers to integrating adaptation and innovative Nature Based Solutions (NBS) into infrastructure projects by delivering upstream analysis and support to develop information and metrics on hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. Specific interventions include providing:

• High resolution climate risk assessments for the project assets and the landscape surrounding the assets;
• Adaptation and resilience design and investment options appraisals that price the costs of benefits of potential interventions, including NBS; and
• Transaction advisory support to allocate climate risk within the financing plan for the project, especially in the contexts of public-private partnerships (PPP).

The AIRA portfolio of projects includes technical support to infrastructure investments in assets across the energy sector, including renewable energy projects, transport, water, and other.

Objective
Through the AIRA pillar of AAAP, GCA’s Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions Program will provide targeted technical assistance to integrate climate resilience into infrastructure projects from MDBs and other development partners.
 
Within this context, GCA is seeking Service Providers to enter into a Framework Agreement to integrate adaptation and resilience into infrastructure projects across infrastructure sectors and countries/regions in Africa.
 
General Tasks and Activities
The four types of services to be provided under the Framework Agreement are:
A.    Climate Risk Assessment
B.    Adaptation and Resilience Investment Options Appraisal
C.    Technical Guidelines for Infrastructure Resilience
D.    Capacity Building of African Institutions and Knowledge Transfer

Submission of the Proposal
If you are interested in participating in this “Request for Proposal”, you are requested to submit your proposal no later than 15^th January 2025, 16:00:00 hours (04:00:00 p.m. o’clock), Central European Time (CET).

Bidders are cautioned that the timing of submission is based on when the proposal is received by the GCA, not when a proposal is submitted by a bidder. As transmission can be delayed due to file transfer size, transmission speed or other technical factors, bidders should plan to submit proposals well in advance of the Submission Deadline to avoid submitting late due to technical issues. Bidders submitting near the Submission Deadline do so at their own risk.

Proposals received after the closing date and time will be rejected. GCA will confirm receipt of proposals within 24 hours from the closing date and time. Bidders that do not receive this confirmation must contact GCA within 48 hours from the closing date and time. After 48 hours from the closing date and time, GCA shall not respond to any queries related to whether a bidder’s proposal was received.

Please download the full RFP on thie page for more information.